Annabelle's POV I woke up to the sound of crying and then a door slamming. What the heck? I looked over at me clock- it was 8pm. I slept 4 hours?! I slid out of bed and opened the door. I stepped out into the hall and trotted down the stairs. The front door was open and Dad was in the kitchen completely and utterly drunk. Mum was on the floor at his feet crying. I slipped past them unnoticed and headed out side. I saw Faith disappear in the trees near the house. I followed her quickly. I found her sitting on a rock at the edge of a beautiful pond. A small waterfall filled it up. "Faith," I said softly. She turned and looked at me. Her eyes were red and cheeks tear stained. I sat down next to her. "Dad gets drunk everynight. And he beats Mum too." Faith said softly. I nodded. "Why are they still together?" I asked. "I dunno." Faith replied. I slung my arm around her shoulders. "Faith, do you know where I came from?" I asked suddenly. "Annabelle, I know you havent always been here. I am your guardian. I know you are a banned Angel. I am made with these memories of us so I can protect you better." Faith replied. "But how?" I asked. She smiled slightly. "I dont know. Its just how it is." "Faith, I turn 18 next month. I can get my own appartment and you can come live with me, yeah?" I suggested. Faith's eyes widened. "Really?" She asked hopefully. "Really," I smiled. "That would be great." She said, suddenly shy. I gave her a hug. "Do you always come here when Mum and Dad get like that?" "Yup." Faith replied, popping the 'p.' "Its nice. Does Mum & Dad know about it?" I wondered. "No...I found it, and now it is my safe haven. I come here to think." Faith smiled proudly. "Faith, about 1D...when is the concert?" I asked. Her eyes lit up. "Two months!!" She squealed. I laughed. "They must be very good, no?" I smiled. "Of course!" "Tomorrow how about we have a girls day?" I suggested. "Sure! Tori is coming right?" "How did you know?" I asked. "Well, I know everything about you." She replied. "I think CeCe is coming too. You could invite Jayden & Adele." I said. She nodded. "Ok." "Tomorrow morning I will take you out for coffee, ok, love?" I smiled. "Thanks." Faith said. I got up and helped her off of the rock. "I have a secret way into the house." Faith said. She pointed to a tree, its branches reached the roof. "Where does that hatch lead too?" I asked. "A secret attic/loft room. You can get up there through a secret stair way in my closet." Faith explained. "Does Mum-" I started. "Nope! I added that to the house plan secretly." Faith smirked. "Sneaky," I grinned, "Shall we?" I motioned to the giant tree. She nodded and so I started up. It was a long climb, but it was still fun. Once I made it onto the roof, I opened the hatch and dropped down onto the floor. The room was really big. It had a kitchenette, which had hard wood floor in it. Then a small sitting room, with a TV, which was carpetted. Then a set of white double doors caught my attention. I walked over and opened them. It was a bedroom. Two beds on oppisite sides of the walls with two doors. One was a closet, the other was a bathroom. Wow. Faith walked up next to me. "Pretty cool, eh?" She smiled. I nodded. "Very, how about we stay the night up here?" I suggested, "Then we can sneak out for coffee?" "Ok," she replied, "The secret stairway is there." She pointed to a set of metal spiral stairs in the floor behind us. It leads down to a secret space which you can get to through a hidden door in my closet. But it connects to your closet too," Faith explained. "Sweet!" I smiled.

Notes

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